PORTLAND, Ore. --- After Santa Clara jumped out to an early lead, the Portland Pilots used a five-run bottom of the seventh inning to claim a 5-3 comeback win over the Broncos in a West Coast Conference baseball game played on Friday night at Joe Etzel Field. Jace McKinney provided the big hit in the seventh, which was a two-run, go-ahead double.
 
Entering the seventh trailing 3-0, the Pilots (22-20, 4-15 WCC) got Dutton Elske and Chad Stevens on board with only one out. Daniel Lopez followed with a single through the left side, loading the bases for the Pilots.
 
Santa Clara (9-30. 2-14 WCC) then turned to reliever Keegan McCarville, and Blake Porter promptly greeted the pitcher with a single to right field that scored two and made it a one-run game. The next batter was Matt Kelly, who earned a walk to load the bases for the second time in the inning. Up to plate came Cody Hawken, and he drew another walk that forced in the tying run.
 
Now with the score even 3-3, McKinney, a pinch hitter, launched a double to deep center field, easily scoring Porter and Kelly to hand the Pilots their first lead of the night.
 
After a scoreless eighth inning, Portland went with their closer Connor Knutson in the top of the ninth. The Broncos did get a pair of runners on base against the NCBWA Closer of the Year candidate, but Knutson avoided any damage to notch his ninth save of the year.
 
The Broncos got to Portland starter Chris Clements for three runs in the first two innings, but the right-handed senior recovered from there to finish with six K's and no walks in 6.0 innings of work.
 
Christian Peters (2-2) was solid in relief for the Pilots to earn the win. Peters didn't allow a hit in 2.0 innings, and he struck out three in the top of the eighth after issuing a pair of walks.
 
McCarville (3-6) takes the loss for Santa Clara.
 
Game two of this three-game series is set for Saturday night at 6 p.m. at Joe Etzel Field.